A framework for supporting information sharing and reuse in e-government service delivery in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda’s public sector continues to face significant challenges in information sharing and reuse among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), despite notable investments in ICT infrastructure and e-government systems. Fragmented data ecosystems, limited interoperability, and redundant data management processes hinder effective service delivery. This study addresses these challenges by proposing a context-specific framework for supporting secure and scalable information sharing and reuse across MDAs. Grounded in a thorough literature review and a comprehensive analysis of Uganda’s institutional context, the study adopts the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology. Through iterative design, evaluation, and refinement cycles, the study integrates findings from document reviews and empirical data collected via a national survey targeting ICT professionals and data managers. Key challenges and requirements were categorized using the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) framework. The resulting framework SIRAM (Supporting Information Reuse Among MDAs) is an adapted version of Estonia’s X-Road framework, extended to suit Uganda’s unique governance and operational environment. SIRAM incorporates components such as policy harmonization, metadata standards, legal alignment, stakeholder trust-building, and capacity development. Visual modeling was conducted using Visual Paradigm. To evaluate the framework, structured walkthroughs were conducted with 15 experts from URA and peer MDAs. Evaluation results confirmed the framework’s conceptual relevance, usability, and institutional applicability. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for coordinated legal reform, investment in capacity-building, and centralized governance structures to unlock the full benefits of e-government interoperability in Uganda. Future studies may extend the framework by testing its scalability across MDAs, integrating with UGHUB, and examining policy adoption challenges. Future work will pilot SIRAM across additional MDAs and refine governance, legal, and technical guidelines by sector. It will also evaluate capacity needs and the costs and benefits of nationwide adoption.